Karnataka crisis: DK Shivakumar stopped before Mumbai hotel

The crisis in Karnataka politics has spilled over to Mumbai with Congress leader DK Shivakumar was stopped by Mumbai police while he was trying to enter into the Mumbai hotel, where rebel Congress MLAs from Karnataka are staying, on Wednesday.

Shivakumar said that he tried to enter the hotel as he has a valid hotel booking. But the Renaissance hotel authorities said that Shivakumar's booking had already been cancelled due to over booking.

Meanwhile, a group of BJP protesters too had gathered outside the hotel in anticipation of Shivakumar's arrival. Earlier, Congress rebel MLAs have written to the Mumbai police Commissioner asking for intervention since Shivakumar was expected to get into the hotel. BJP workers raised 'Shivakumar go back' slogans to turn away the congress leader from the hotel premise.

Deterred by the protesters and police, Shivakumar said: " I won't go, I will wait here all day. I am not afraid of slogans chanted by BJP supporters outside the hotel. This Shivakumar is not afraid of any slogans. I have come alone and I will die alone". He said that the latest development was a clear signal that the BJP was orchestrating the political crisis in Karnataka.

Congress leader K.C. Venugopal who accompanies Shivakumar said that they have right to meet the rebel Congress MLAs who are staying in the hotel.

It is believed that 10 rebel Congress MLAs are staying in the Mumbai hotel after they submitted resignation letter to the Karnataka speaker. It is alleged that the rebel MLAs were transported to Mumbai in a chartered plane owned by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar.